Lincolnshire

Clinical Lead and Pain Physiotherapist

Grainne qualified as a Physiotherapist from the University of Ulster in 1994 and moved to England from Northern Ireland to begin working in MSK Physiotherapy. She had a variety of roles over the South East of England for 3 years, building up her clinical experience before moving to Australia. She worked there for a year and developed an interest in spinal pain.

After moving back to the UK, Grainne worked at BMI Hospital in Buckinghamshire in collaboration with a spinal surgeon to provide timely rehabilitation advice for pre and post-surgical patients. In 2000, she moved to Norfolk and both got married and had her son within 1 year. She began to work closely with Pain Consultants at the Norwich BUPA Hospital and in 2004 was asked to join the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Pain Team as their first physiotherapy team member.

For the last 15 years, Grainne has been building up an MDT of Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapists, alongside Clinical Psychology colleagues. Together they have developed a Pain Management Programme, Pain Educational Seminars and Mindful Movement classes amongst many innovations. Over the last 5 years, she developed the role of the Specialist Physiotherapist in Pain to include assessment and management of new patients.

Grainne joined the Connect team as we move towards providing community based, and AHP lead pain management services in Lincolnshire because she absolutely believes that Pain Management begins with Self-Management. In addition to accessible, timely, evidenced based treatments which enable those people who are struggling with persistent pain to ‘live well’ with their pain and enjoy meaningful fulfilled activities.

Service Manager

Following graduation from the University of East Anglia as a Physiotherapist in 2007, Emily worked for 5 years as an MSK Physiotherapist which she thoroughly enjoyed. She found working with complex patients whose conditions impacted on both their emotions and social function was the most rewarding to work with, so she decided to specialise in the field of Pain Management. Emily’s particular interests include pain neuroscience and psychological therapies. Initially she worked within a multi-disciplinary hospital pain service before moving into community pain management, where she has worked in leadership positions including clinical operations and quality and governance. She is thrilled to be leading the holistic Community Lincolnshire Pain service for Connect Health, which is improving access to and the quality of pain management treatments available to the people of Lincolnshire particularly the isolated population in rural communities.

Physiotherapy Team Leader

James has been a Physiotherapist for over 10 years and currently works as a Physiotherapy Team Leader within the Lincolnshire Pain Management service for Connect Health. He has worked across multiple settings within the NHS and Lincolnshire, including the private setting and elite sport. Although, he has gained the vast majority of his clinical experience working in the MOD with musculoskeletal acute and chronic rehabilitation of injured personnel. He enjoys finding a balance in working with people with persistent pain. James loves watching his children play football in his spare time, as well as coaching football and walking his dog too.

Advanced Practice Physiotherapist

Donna has a varied physiotherapy background, having worked in the NHS, in private clinics and at a private hospital. As well as also working in professional sport, specifically football at club and international level and at all levels of rugby league, ballet, for military RAF and the army. She has 2 master’s degrees with distinction in Sports Medicine and Sports Biomechanics, in addition to a post graduate diploma in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy with merit. She has also just been awarded a postgraduate certificate in the Clinical Management of Pain with distinction. Donna is a member of the MACP, which is the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and her areas of interest are in persistent pain and complex musculoskeletal problems. In her spare time, Donna enjoys spending time at the gym; particularly spinning, bootcamps, circuits and has just taken up weightlifting.

Advanced Practice Physiotherapist

Christian has always been interested in health and wellbeing from an early age and has spent the last 20 years’ working in the health and fitness industry in a variety of different roles and environments. He enjoys working in persistent pain as he likes that it is solution-focused. In his spare time, he has a passion for travel and food and loves spending time with my family and teaching his daughter how to cook. He also loves cycling and most things rugby related.

Clinical Psychologist

Katie is a Clinical Psychologist with a background and special interest in physical health psychology and adult mental health. She has worked across both of these specialisms since completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has over 10 years’ experience working in the NHS, including several years in Lincolnshire, delivering psychological therapies to people living with debilitating physical health conditions, such as chronic pain. She enjoys supporting people with persistent pain live a values-led meaningful life and be able to enjoy their life beyond pain. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, being active and taking in nature.

Clinical Psychologist

Gary currently works in an Older Adult Mental Health Service providing a range of psychological therapies for people over 65 years old. He also undertakes neuropsychological assessments to assist clinicians in their diagnosis of possible dementia. Gary finds working in persistent pain challenging, engaging and transformative. In his spare time, Gary likes reading history and crime fiction and enjoys listening to choral music.

Clinical Psychologist

Louise joined Connect in September 2018 as a newly qualified Clinical Psychologist, after completing her doctorate at UEA. She studied her undergraduate degree at Teesside University in Psychology and Counselling. Her previous employment has centred around chronic mental health in a forensic setting. She has worked clinically and in research with individuals with lifelong mental health conditions, such as psychosis, personality disorders and psychopathy. She has a particular interest in working clinically to help people overcome the complex impact of psychological trauma.

Clinical Psychologist

Crenguta has a rich experience of working in NHS mental health services. She is interested in using theories informed by psychoanalysis, gestalt, mindfulness, as well as philosophy. She enjoys working in persistent pain because of the results she has seen so far in that line of work.